Bertha K. Bowen

Bertha Koch Bowen, 92, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 23, 2017 in San Antonio. Bertha was born January 18, 1925, to Ben and Alice Finger Koch of D’Hanis, Texas. Growing up in a small town surrounded by family – loving parents, an older sister, 13 pairs of aunts and uncles and 54 first cousins – enriched her life.

After graduating from St. Anthony School in D’Hanis, Bertha worked for the Field Director of the Red Cross in Hondo during World War II. After the war, she continued her work with the Red Cross in San Antonio.

Bertha loved learning and furthered her education by enrolling in night classes at St. Mary’s University. She then pursued and earned a degree at Our Lady of the Lake University.

With degree in hand, she began a teaching career in elementary schools in Yorktown, New Braunfels, San Antonio and, to her delight, Frankfurt, Germany. Her love of teaching was exemplified by the fact that notes and cards from her students were among her most cherished possessions.

Bertha’s maternal Finger family ancestors had emigrated from Alsace in the 1840’s as part of the colonization efforts of Henri Castro. She was encouraged by family members to search for relatives while she was in Europe. Even though her initial venture was unsuccessful, she deserves credit for being among the first residents of D’Hanis to return to Alsace to begin the search. Eventually contact was made and thus began the mutual correspondence and visits between the families on both sides of the ocean that continue today. In August 1975, the Castro Colonies Heritage Association was founded to honor the brave souls who followed Castro to Texas. Bertha was a charter member and former president of the organization.

Her love of family was a focal point in her life, but she had other loves, too: playing bridge and bunco, attending the theater, gardening, photography, and wonderful storytelling. She was a tireless volunteer and supporter of St. Peter-St. Joseph’s Children’s Home and had served as president of St. P.J.’s Ladies Auxiliary.

Bertha’s Catholic faith was steadfast. She was a familiar face at daily Mass at St. Pius X. She sang in the church choir and was a Eucharistic Minister, visiting the sick and homebound or offering a ride to Sunday Mass,

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband and travel companion of 36 years Francis J. Bowen III, and her sister Sarah Flusche and husband Marcus. She is survived by nephews Mark Flusche (Denise) of Lawton, OK, Bernard Flusche (Susan) of Austin, TX, Jay Flusche of Houston, TX, David F. Bowen of Carson City, CO, and nieces Colette Flusche Schultz (John) of Houston, TX, Mary Beth Bowen (Art Silverman) of Washington, DC, Patricia Jones (Steve) of Metairie, LA, and Margaret Bowen (Kevin Murphy) of Prairie Village, KS. Also cherishing their memories of her are her sister-in-law Rosemary Bowen of Washington, DC and an array of grand nieces and nephews, godchildren, cousins and friends. Thanks go to the nurses and staff at Incarnate Word Retirement Community and the hospice nurses who cared for her, and especially to Mary Beth who made numerous trips to visit Bertha on her birthday. Lastly, unending thanks go to Bertha’s cousin and dear friend Frances Dannemiller who was so diligent in visiting and supporting Bertha—she was Bertha’s angel on earth.

Visitation at 6:00pm followed by rosary at 7:00pm Monday, September 25, 2017 at St. Joseph's Chapel at the Incarnate Word Retirement Community, 4707 Broadway.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at 10:15 am at St. Pius X Catholic Church. A graveside service will follow at 2:00 pm at Holy Cross Cemetery in D'Hanis, TX.

Arrangements under the direction of Sunset Funeral Home, San Antonio, TX.